Fort Saskatchewan claims AMBHL final in Close Game 5 Thriller

The Fort Saskatchewan Rangers won their best-of-five series 3-2 over
the defending champion Lethbridge Val Matteoti Golden Hawks. The final
game was a 2-1 win for the Rangers in enemy territory. (Courtesy of Fort
Saskatchewan Rangers)

It came down to one goal in the best-of-five series, but the Fort
Saskatchewan Rangers claimed their first Alberta Major Bantam Hockey
League (AMBHL) championship with a win over the defending champion
Lethbridge Val Matteoti Golden Hawks.

Noah Boyko’s breakaway goal in the third period was the game winner
as the Rangers bested the Golden Hawks 2-1 at Lethbridge’s home rink. In
fact, each game was won by the opposition on the other team’s ice.
Sebastian Cossa, the No. 1 goalie prospect for the upcoming WHL Bantam
Draft, made 36 saves in the victory.

In Game 1, Fort Saskatchewan won 3-2 thanks to an overtime winner by
Raphael Pelletier. Rangers F Riley Fiddler-Schultz had two assists,
while Cossa had 35 saves in the win. Lethbridge’s Kadyn Chabot did all
he could, potting two, and Brayden Peters had a strong game turning
aside 42 shots.

Fiddler-Schultz and Chabot both continued from their strong start,
with the former scoring the winning goal and the latter picking up a
helper. Cossa had another 35-save effort in his team’s 2-1 win, putting
the Rangers up 2-0.

Heading to Fort Saskatchewan for Games 3 and 4 meant Lethbridge had
to step it up as they were on the verge of elimination. Ridly Greig (two
goals, two assists) and Zack Stringer (hat trick, one assist) were the
top offensive performers in a massive 7-2 win, shifting the series’
momentum.

Needing another victory to force a Game 5, Lethbridge was able to nab
a second road win. Fort Saskatchewan brought a better effort, but the
Golden Hawks claimed the win in OT as Greig buried the winner. Peters
made an impressive 37 saves in the victory.

Lethbridge’s Stringer led playoff scoring with 19 points, while
teammates Greig and Scout Truman hit 18, as did Rangers F Boyko. Fort
Saskatchewan’s Pelletier led the postseason in goals with 11 and Cossa
had the most wins at eight. The top goalie was Lethbridge’s Peters, who
posted a 5-2 record with a .938 save percentage and 2.00 GAA.

Next up, Fort Saskatchewan heads east to play in the Western Canada
Bantam Championship in Warman and Martensville, Sask. from March 30 -
Apr. 2.

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